When To Say When

Until this day, I have always said that college is the one time in a persons' life where they can change who they are.  High school is often the time where a person needs to fit the mold set by their peers, or face ridicule and excile from their group of friends.  College is when an individual can more easily seperate from those ties, because it is socially acceptable,  anticipated, and known that connections will be lost.  Therefore, a person can reinvent themselves with little or no effort.  They are going into a new environment where there are new people, no preconceived notions, and a person can be someone new.  In my personal experience, that was taking my focus off of school sports, and focusing more on school involvement and academic clubs.  We all have opportunties for change, but the ease at which thoser changes occur changes as time progresses.

The reason I write this post is two fold, the first being that I spoke with someone this morning that has hit an occupoational plateau, and the second is that I witnessd the transformation of a 398 pound 49 yearold to a 198 pound 50 yearold.  The pofessional that has hit the plateau loved the real estate industry.  He has been active for nearly 20 years, but now dislikes the industry.  When you lose your passion, no amount of effort will produce the results that a person desires, or knows that they can acheive.  It seems that he has spent too much time doing one career, and with the current state of the economy, he has noticed his discomfort.  That is life knocking on his door to change. 

The second example was on television this last Sunday.  On Extreme Makeover, there was as gentleman that wished for his 50th birthday to be the normal weight for a 50 yearold man.  He was taken under the care of the television show, and dedicated a full year to his wish.  He exceeded his goal of weighing in at 199 pounds, and posted a 198 pound weight on his birthday.  The amazing thing above the and beyond his amazing weight loss, was the perciverance that was exuded throughout the course of the year.  He separated from his fiancee, he was homeless, he lost his son to medical complications, and still he triumphed.  This story that was played out over the 1 hour television show was the perfect illustration of how change becomes harded as life progresses, but is by no means impossible.

I share these two stories because nothing is impossible.  Change may be harder at certain times, but if you focus on it, then you become it.  Focus on what truly matters most to you and go for it.  You will make sacrafices, and it will be difficult, but the outcome/s will certainly be worth it.  There is a classic phrase, "The darkest hour is just before the dawn."  Things will be harder before they are better.  Keep your nose to the road, have faith and hope, and believe that anything is possible.  Go make it happen!

Scott